Following the severe weather that ripped through the state last week, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is currently reviewing the damage numbers to determine if the state is eligible for federal assistance.
Tornadoes, significant rainfall and flooding hit the majority of the state last Tuesday through Wednesday. Yazoo County is among the 19 counties to report damage during the severe weather.
Jack Willingham, director of the county’s emergency management, said the county received at least nine inches of rainfall at one particular time. Local damage reports include one mobile home destroyed by a fallen tree; one house with major damage; one house and two mobile homes with minor damage; and eight other homes affected.
Statewide, as of press time, MEMA has received reports of about 280 homes damaged, nine injuries and two deaths. The deaths were reported in Scott County, from a loss of oxygen following disconnection with power, and Leflore County, from a hydroplaned vehicle landing in a flooded ditch.
Jason Patterson, communications manager with Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association, said Tuesday and Wednesday’s storms resulted in about 50 percent of its members within its system losing power. However, power was fully restored by the end of last week thanks to its work crews and linemen.
During the peak of the storm, Entergy Mississippi President and CEO Haley Fisackerly said 33,600 were without power in the state. As of press time, all local outages had been restored.
Willingham said the amount of heavy rainfall posed a particular threat to the Eastbrook subdivision on Highway 16.
“The water overtopped the levee, but no homes were flooded,” Willingham said. “One resident was asked to evacuate in case the levee broke, and other residents in the neighborhood were contacted to let them know about the situation.”
Willingham said Eastbrook’s levee did not break, and several volunteer efforts were made with three pumps being used to reduce the pond water amount. Volunteers, local emergency management, deputies, medical services and state agencies were on the scene throughout the incident.
“There was some erosion on the other side of the road, but one lane of the road is passable at this point,” Willingham added.
MEMA reported about 47 public roads, two public bridges, seven public buildings and three non-profit utility companies damaged statewide.
Four tornadoes throughout the state have been confirmed by the National Weather Service including EF 0 tornado in Warren County (Oak Ridge); EF 1 tornado in Hinds County (Learned/Raymond); EF 0 tornado in Madison County (Mannsdale); and EF 1 tornado in Harrison County (Wolf River).
